Treat Yourself KAL: What We're Making

January 18, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

The Treat Yourself KAL is off to a great start! Patterns cast on (or announced) so far include the Downy Hat, Tailwind Shawl, Indikon Mitts, Couplet Socks, the Catbird Shawl, Tortoise Shells Socks, Purlish Mitts, and the Biscuit Cowl. Such a nice variety!

If you’d like to join us, head to the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. This KAL continues through February 25, so there’s plenty of time to cast on and finish.

Tailwind Shawl (photo courtesy Interweave/Harper Point Photography)

I’ve joined the KAL with a pair of Indikon Mitts in handspun Cormo. Ever since I spun this yarn and dyed it with hickory nuts a few years ago, I’ve been wanting to cast on these mitts. I’m so happy to be treating myself to them at last.

If you’re feeling like you could use a new handknit — maybe something lacy for your spring wardrobe? — hop over to Ravelry and join us. Any of my designs can be knit for this KAL. We’d love to have you!

LINKS
Treat Yourself Knitalong
Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Treat Yourself KAL Ideas: Garments

January 11, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

The Treat Yourself KAL lasts six weeks, starting Monday, January 14, and ending Monday, February 25. If you’re making a larger project like a sweater, feel free to get started swatching this weekend. That way you can hit the ground running next week.

Here are some garment ideas, if you’re thinking you might like to dive in and cast on a sweater or vest.

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Garments

Pattern: Meadow Road
Yarn: Stitch Sprouts Yellowstone

Easygoing A-line shape, gathered sleeves, seamless construction — there’s lots to like about Meadow Road (named after the rural road where we shot the photos). The pattern provides instructions for six sizes: 32.25 (35.5, 39.25, 43.25, 47.75, 51.75) inches/82 (90, 100, 110, 121, 131) cm .

Pattern: Pom2
Yarn: Bartlettyarns Sport

Like Meadow Road, Pom2 is a seamless design, worked in the round from the bottom up. There are six sizes, with finished bust circumferences of 36.5 (39.5, 44.25, 47.75, 52.25, 55.5) inches/93 (100, 112, 121, 133, 141) cm. Want to make the knitting go faster? You could work the lace panel on the front only and knit stockinette on the back!

Drafter’s Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennottphoto: Interweave/Harper Point Photography — Drafter’s Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennott
photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Drafter’s Cardigan
Yarn: Plucky Knitter Traveler Sport

It may be coldest January now, but spring will come eventually, and wouldn’t a lace cardigan be a nice addition to your spring wardrobe? The Drafter’s Cardigan, from the spring 2017 issue of Knitscene, is worked in one piece to the armholes; after finishing front and back and joining the shoulders, you work the set-in sleeves top-down in the round. Bust sizes range from 33 to 53 inches/84-135 cm.

Pattern: Wichita
Yarn: Woolen Rabbit Emma

If the time commitment of a sweater doesn’t work for you, maybe a vest would be a good project instead. Knit in one piece from the bottom up, this double-breasted, cabled vest lets you get creative with buttons (I used mismatched vintage buttons purchased at a thrift shop).

Mathews Street Vest, by Bonnie Sennottphoto: Interweave/Harper Point Photography — Mathews Street Vest, by Bonnie Sennott
photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Mathews Street
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit

Here’s another garment idea that’s definitely doable during the KAL — the textured Mathews Street Vest, originally published in knit.wear, fall 2016. Like Wichita, it’s worked in one piece to the armholes. It features an attractive knit-and-purl pattern; garter stitch details at the hem, armholes, front bands, and neck pull it all together.

If you’re joining the Treat Yourself KAL, pop over to Ravelry this weekend and let us know what you’re making. You don’t have to wait until Monday. Photos of yarn are always appreciated!

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Garments Bundle

Treat Yourself KAL Ideas: Hands and Feet

January 9, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

The Treat Yourself KAL is meant to be relaxing — but sometimes working on a deadline feels stressful, and we don’t want that! So if you’d like to join the knitalong but aren’t sure you’ll have time to finish a large project like a sweater or shawl, consider choosing something smaller. Mitts, mittens, and socks are not major time commitments, and they’re also portable, easy to bring with you wherever you go.

You can make any of my designs for this KAL, which starts Monday, January 14. Here are just a few ideas for hands and feet - see more in my socks, mitts, and hats Ravelry bundle (hats are quick small projects, too, and I’ll talk about them in another post).

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Hands and Feet

Pattern: Indikon
Yarn: Sportweight

I have a soft spot for the squishy texture of these mitts. They’re incredibly warm! I’ve worn them so much they’re beginning to wear thin in places, so I might cast on a new pair for the Treat Yourself KAL. The pattern provides instructions for two sizes; you’ll need 190-225 yards/174-206 m.

On the Other Hand Mitts, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: On the Other Hand
Yarn: Skeinny Dipping Merino Single (fingering weight)

This pattern gives you two design options for the cuffs - make one of each, or make both mitts the same. They’re nice and long, great for keeping cold air out of your coat sleeves while leaving your fingers free.

Leaf in the Wind Mittens, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Leaf in the Wind
Yarn: Cascade 220 Fingering

For winter’s coldest days, you’ll want your fingers well covered — and that calls for mittens. Inspired by the art of Agnes Martin (and named after one of her paintings), the Leaf in the Wind mittens pair striped garter stitch cuffs with geometric stranded-color patterning.

Pattern: Couplet
Yarn: Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors

I love when I hit on a design idea that gives knitters options. Like the On the Other Hand mitts, Couplet gives you two options for the cuffs — one with lace (shown here) and one without. Choose whichever strikes your fancy!

Pattern: Rowhouse Socks
Yarn: Fingering weight - three colors

Here’s a project for those odds and ends of sock yarns in your stash. The colorwork is not complicated, and once you’re past it, the solid-color part of the sock is really perfect for knitting while on the bus or in line or at meetings (or hanging out at home with your knitting inspector/kitty).

I hope some of these patterns appeal to you for the Treat Yourself KAL! If you’re joining in, what will you make?

Coming up next time: garment ideas.

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Socks, Mitts, and Hats Bundle

Countdown to the Treat Yourself Knitalong

January 7, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

Get your needles, yarns, and patterns ready! The Treat Yourself KAL in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group starts a week from today. There’s just one objective: make something special for yourself, in yarns and colors that make your heart sing.

The Treat Yourself KAL starts Monday, January 14 and ends Monday, February 25. That’s six full weeks of knitting and camaraderie with fellow Ravelers. What better way to get through the cold winter months?

You can make any of my patterns for this KAL — anything that makes you happy. You could treat yourself to learning a new technique, like working cables or reading a lace chart. Or indulge in a luxurious yarn like cashmere for a really special one-skein scarf. Or knit up a colorful hat or pair of socks to help yourself get through the winter!

All week, I’ll be sharing pattern ideas here on the blog and in my Instagram Stories. if you’re inspired to cast on, hop over to Ravelry and let us know what you’re going to make!

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Scarves and Shawls

Pattern: Ischnura
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, 3 skeins

When you’re wrapped up in Ischnura, you’re experiencing the ultimate in hygge. The knitting goes quickly because this shawl is knit from the bottom up in bulky weight yarn. It’s got cables, lace, garter stitch, and lots of cozy warmth.

Pattern: Hop Brook
Yarn: Elsa Wool Cormo Woolen Spun Fingering, 1 skein

Worked from one end to the other, Hop Brook offers a pleasing combination of garter stitch and lace. It’s a great choice for that special skein of fingering you’ve been saving for just the right project.

Pattern: About Town Shawl
Yarn: Three colors of fingering weight yarn (see pattern page for specific amounts)

Let your creativity shine as you choose your colors for an About Town shawl. It’s a great stash buster, and a lovely late winter/early spring accessory.

Pattern: Skipperling
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Luxury Sock, 1 skein

Spring and Skipperling go together! With its pretty scalloped ends and lace like butterflies, this scarf is one of my personal favorites. I wear it with everything — and my neck is so, so happy to be wrapped in ultra soft merino and cashmere.

Pattern: Tailwind Shawl
Yarn: Berroco Remix Light, 2 skeins

Wide enough to function as either a shawl or a scarf, Tailwind is a brand-new design just published in the spring 2019 issue of Knitscene. Easy lace stitches worked in DK weight yarn make the knitting go quickly and smoothly. And — it’s got fringe!

Coming up next: socks and mitts ideas for the Treat Yourself KAL.

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Scarves and Shawls Ravelry Bundle

Downy Sale Extended (and Other Good Things)

January 3, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

Good news! The sale on my new Downy Hat pattern has been extended so that knitters who want to make it for the upcoming Treat Yourself Knitalong can take advantage of the discount. Through Sunday, January 6, you can save 20% on Downy with the coupon code DOWNY20.

Our most popular knitalong in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group starts soon. The Treat Yourself KAL begins Monday, January 14 and ends Monday, February 25. For this KAL, you can make any of my patterns, so long as you’re making it for yourself. For six weeks, we’ll knit at a relaxed pace, chat about our projects, and share tips for practicing good self-care. After the busy holiday season, the Treat Yourself Knitalong is a chance to cast on a special project in a special yarn, and immerse yourself in easygoing knitting. We’ll also have some lovely prizes — more about those will be announced in the KAL thread very soon!

Tailwind Shawl, by Bonnie Sennottphoto credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography — Tailwind Shawl, by Bonnie Sennott
*photo credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography*

I know it’s dead of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, but in the knitting magazine world, spring is already in the air. The spring issue of Knitscene is already available online, and the print edition will be in bookstores and yarn shops soon. In it, you’ll find my first new pattern for 2019, the Tailwind Shawl. It’s got fringe! Fringe! And can be worn lots of ways. More about Tailwind in my next post.

In the meantime, don’t forget to pop over to Ravelry and get Downy for 20% off — it would be a fun “treat yourself” project for the KAL, not to mention a good first stranded-color project if you’re looking to expand your knitting skills this year.